The federal poverty level in California for 2026 is $15,960 a year for a single person and $33,000 for a family of four, with $5,680 added for each additional household member.1GovInfo. Federal Register Vol. 91, No. 10 – Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines California uses the same guidelines as the other 47 contiguous states and Washington, D.C., rather than the higher thresholds that apply in Alaska and Hawaii. These numbers set the baseline for Medi-Cal, Covered California subsidies, CalFresh, utility discounts, and other assistance programs across the state.
2026 Poverty Guidelines by Household Size
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services updates the guidelines every January based on inflation.2U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Poverty Guidelines API For 2026:
- 1 person: $15,960
- 2 people: $21,640
- 3 people: $27,320
- 4 people: $33,000
- 5 people: $38,680
- 6 people: $44,360
- 7 people: $50,040
- 8 people: $55,720
For households larger than eight, add $5,680 per additional person.1GovInfo. Federal Register Vol. 91, No. 10 – Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines
Why the Base Number Isn’t the Cutoff
Those figures represent 100% of the federal poverty level, often written as 100% FPL. Very few California programs actually cut off eligibility at that line. Each one sets its own ceiling at a percentage above the guideline — 138% here, 200% there, 400% for some subsidies. So you can earn well above the base poverty figure and still qualify for meaningful help. When an eligibility worker or application asks for your income “as a percentage of FPL,” they’re comparing your household income to the number above for your household size.
California Programs and Their Income Limits
Medi-Cal
Adults qualify for Medi-Cal with income up to 138% of the federal poverty level under the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion.3HealthCare.gov. Federal Poverty Level For 2026, that’s $22,025 a year for a single person and $45,540 for a family of four.4Covered California. Program Eligibility by Federal Poverty Level for 2026 Children, pregnant individuals, and people with disabilities often qualify under separate Medi-Cal categories with higher income allowances.
Covered California Premium Subsidies
If your income is too high for Medi-Cal but falls between 100% and 400% FPL, you can get federal premium tax credits that lower what you pay for a plan through Covered California. For a single person, the 400% ceiling in 2026 is $63,840.5U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2026 Poverty Guidelines – Detailed Lower-income enrollees also get extra cost-sharing reductions through Silver-tier plans: Silver 94 up to 150% FPL, Silver 87 up to 200%, and Silver 73 up to 250%.4Covered California. Program Eligibility by Federal Poverty Level for 2026
CalFresh
CalFresh, California’s food assistance program, sets its gross income limit at 200% FPL for most households. A single person can earn up to $31,920 a year and still qualify; a family of four, up to $66,000.5U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2026 Poverty Guidelines – Detailed A stricter 130% threshold applies if a household member has been disqualified for an intentional program violation.
CARE Utility Discount
The California Alternate Rates for Energy program uses a 200% FPL income limit by household size. Qualifying households get 30% to 35% off electricity from the large utilities and 20% from smaller providers, plus a flat 20% off natural gas.6California Public Utilities Commission. CARE/FERA Program Households of three or more that earn slightly above the CARE line may qualify for a smaller discount through a companion program called FERA.
How Income Is Counted
Eligibility workers look at gross household income before taxes, from every member of the household. Wages, unemployment benefits, Social Security, alimony, and investment income like interest and dividends all count. If cash is coming in regularly and you can spend it, assume it’s in.
Some things are left out. CalFresh benefits, housing vouchers, and other non-cash assistance don’t count. Neither do one-time receipts like tax refunds or student loan disbursements, because they aren’t recurring income.
MAGI for Health Coverage
Medi-Cal and Covered California use Modified Adjusted Gross Income, or MAGI, which is based on what you report on your federal tax return. For most people it tracks closely with gross income, but the two can diverge. Certain pandemic-era unemployment payments, for example, were excluded from MAGI for Medi-Cal but still counted toward Covered California premium subsidies.7California Department of Health Care Services. Income and Deductions Chart If you’re close to the eligibility line, that difference can decide whether you qualify.
Documenting Income and Household Size
Whichever program you apply to, you’ll need to prove both your income and who’s in your household. For income, recent pay stubs, your latest federal tax return, and W-2 forms are the standard documents. If you receive Social Security, a pension, or other unearned income, bring the official award or benefit letter.
For household size, agencies usually ask for birth certificates or Social Security cards for each person. For CalFresh, your household generally includes everyone who lives with you and buys or prepares meals together, including spouses, parents, and children under 22.
Consistency matters. If your tax return lists three dependents but your application claims four, expect delays or a denial while the county sorts out the discrepancy. Check that your paperwork tells the same story before you file.
Where to Apply
The BenefitsCal online portal handles applications for Medi-Cal, CalFresh, CalWORKs, and other programs in one place, with document uploads and status tracking built in. CalFresh applications must be processed within 30 calendar days of filing, and CalWORKs within 45 days. Both require an eligibility interview during that window, which your county may conduct by phone or in person.